Skip to main content

Sew Along: Making a Winter Coat

Image
By
I've always wanted to make a winter coat. I tried my hand at a blazer about 10 years ago, (I was about 16 at the time) but didn't like the way it turned out. That ended up in the trash.... I'm a little older now and have learned a lot more about sewing, so I'm ready to take it on! I will be using Simplicity #2311. I wanted to make a classic-style coat that is timeless and stylish. 

Simplicity #2311
For the fabric, I chose a Burberry-inspired plaid wool coating. Of course I had to choose something that will make this project just a little bit harder, but I'm really excited to learn how to match plaids! I had this fabric in my stash, although it is from Fabric Mart. We had it on our website last year. 


For the lining I will be using an Italian silk crepe de chine from our website (CWD4232 - Italian Crepe de Chine in Navy). I will be making the coat extra warm by interlining it with cotton flannel and will be using a weft-interfacing. 

CWD4232 - Italian Crepe de Chine in Navy 
Before I cut out any of the pattern pieces from the good fabric, I will be sewing up a muslin. I do not usually create a muslin because I'm too impatient. BUT I do not want to mess this up. I've already cut out the pattern pieces from my muslin and hope to start working on it over the weekend.

I've been doing a lot of research on this pattern. I really enjoy using Pattern Review to see what others have to say about the pattern. While researching on Pattern Review, I came across a blog that also featured her process in sewing this coat pattern -- Notes from a Mad Housewife. I immediately fell in love with Lisa's blog. She has a lot of insight on what steps to make to complete a beautiful winter coat. She just finished her version of the coat, check it out here. I got the idea to interline with cotton flannel and to use weft-interfacing from her blog also.

Any advice on how to match plaids? I've only done it on a small scale, so this is a HUGE jump for me!

~Julie

Comments

  1. lisa g.November 29, 2012 at 11:08 AM

    love the fabric, this will look really classy! and how apropos... i just did a plaid dress! it's not hard to match plaids, just takes a good deal of patience. i found it was easiest to pick a match point on the seams (either a notch or draw in your own reference point) to easily cross reference between pieces. check and double check! it takes longer to plot out, but it's time well spent.

    thanks for the shout out, i really look forward to seeing how your coat progresses!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fabric MartDecember 4, 2012 at 9:48 PM

      thanks for the advice! I'm going to start cutting out the good pattern pieces later this week!

      Delete
  2. Jenny ArndtNovember 29, 2012 at 1:11 PM

    So excited to follow you, Julie! And thanks for pointing me to Lisa!! I don't have the time right now, but will look up what weft-interfacing is, why it's better, and where to get it!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. TrinityNovember 29, 2012 at 5:33 PM

    I made myself a coat last year, but this year I want to make one for my daughter. It's going to be in plaid, too, and I've haven't picked a pattern yet, but I'm going to start next month when the Pattern Review children's contest starts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. adamJanuary 12, 2013 at 12:11 PM

    B&J Fabrics stocks a unique selection of wool coating fabric.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Vacation Vibes

By
We will be traveling to the Caribbean for Spring Break this year, so I started thinking about what I wanted to take with me that would be easy to wear, but also light and breezy.  Personally, I love wearing linen because it looks so luxe while still being really comfortable. Since coordinated sets are still on trend this year, I thought it would be fun to create some pieces that I could mix and match for a relaxed vacation mini-wardrobe.  (I just need to remember to pack my travel iron!)   I went through all of my patterns and came up with five different patterns that I knew would would coordinate well with each other, and that would work well with linen.  I wasn’t surprised when all the patterns I chose came from Pattern Emporium.  Their whole aesthetic is clothing that is on trend, easy to wear and comfortable.  For my first set, I used the Lightweight Yarn-Dyed Chambray Linen in Soft Oat.  This fabric is so incredibly soft and airy. ...
5 comments
Continue Reading »

Made By A Fabricista: I Love A Bomber Jacket

By
Hello friends,  I’m Byrd, and today I’m excited to share my latest Fabricista project with you.  There’s something timeless about a bomber jacket that makes it a staple in my wardrobe. It’s effortlessly cool, versatile, and perfect for layering through the seasons. But what makes this particular bomber jacket even more special is its thoughtfully designed pattern. Not only is it a standard pattern, but it’s also adaptive—meaning the length and closures can be customized to suit your needs, whether you’re standing, sitting, or using a wheelchair. This level of inclusivity in design is something I truly appreciate, and that’s why I’m especially excited about this make! The Fabric: Cotton Poly Poplin For the bomber jacket, I chose a Salamander White cotton-poly poplin , and it couldn’t be a more perfect match. Poplin is a fantastic choice for outerwear because it’s lightweight yet durable, with just the right amount of structure to hold the classic bomber shape. The cotton-poly b...
6 comments
Continue Reading »

Made By A Fabricista: Pleated High Waisted Pants And How To Style Them

By
Hi sewing friends! Today I’m excited to share some awesome trousers that I discovered last year when I was a tester on this pattern. These pants are seriously amazing and magical because they are pretty beginner friendly but you get a real ready to wear and higher end look due to a few clever features. I also think they are flattering on a variety of body shapes and sizes so all in all, this pattern is a winner for me. I’m also going to share three top patterns of different styles that work well with this trouser style. Have I peaked your interest? Let’s go! These magical trousers are the Padget Pants from Petite Stitchery & Co (PSCo). This pattern is size inclusive and goes up to a 5X or 62 inch hip. It also includes a great projector file with mirrored full pattern pieces (yay for good projector files!). Here are a few action shots of these awesome pants: The instructions specify a knit fabric, but many of the testers on the team made them in stretch or even non-stretch w...
2 comments
Continue Reading »